Amalia Apinelu is an elder from the remote island of Nanumaga in Tuvalu, and one of the few women who regularly attends meetings of the council of chiefs on behalf of women, who are overwhelmed with community work. She highlights how heavily women are relied on for preparing mats and gifts, and how their needs and exhaustion are often overlooked by male decision makers.
Now that there is a woman on the local council, Amalia is hopeful that women’s concerns – like rebuilding the cyclone-damaged shop where women sold their products, and reducing the burden of unpaid work – will be properly heard. Even when their concerns are dismissed by the council of chiefs, she maintains hope that persistence will help shift attitudes over time.
Amalia now cares for her granddaughter and remains committed to advocating for fairer treatment and opportunities for women. Her hope is for a future where women are valued, supported and able to shape the decisions that affect their lives.
Tuvalu Climate finance project
Oxfam’s Tuvalu Climate Finance Project, part of the Kōtui programme, focuses on making climate funding in Tuvalu more fair, transparent and accessible for communities who are most affected by rising seas and climate impacts. Research shows that women in Tuvalu often miss out on information, consultation and benefits from climate finance, so the project works to strengthen their participation in local and national decision-making.
Through its partnership with TuCAN, Oxfam is helping build strong civil society leadership by providing training on gender equality, climate finance, governance and organisational skills. Recent workshops delivered in the Tuvaluan language have helped community groups, including women’s organisations and disability groups, better understand how climate finance works and how they can influence it.
Oxfam and TuCAN are also developing practical tools to track climate funding and ensure it reaches the people who need it most. By improving access to funding and supporting stronger community voices, the project aims to make climate adaptation in Tuvalu more inclusive and effective for everyone.
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